Samoa

The opening address was delivered by the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who acknowledged the important contribution of the Salei’a community, development partners and government agencies working together to address issues of climate change in Samoa.

Fonoti says the push is to ensure television engineers are in tune with the change come late 2017.

“The most important thing is that this technology is obviously new for them and we know the many changes coming in which is why it is important that they be trained in these new areas,” she said.

“These are new skills taught on how to handle new technology, much different from that of the ones they have always operated with in the past and trained for,” she added.

Prime Minister and Minister for MPMC, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi officially opened the office, which is located on the second floor of the Salelologa Market, and encouraged the people of Savaii to make good use of the services provided.

But being no stranger to pushing herself to the limit, the seasoned swimmer is treating the challenge as just another notch in her belt of accomplishments.

Ms Morrison flew to Samoa on Saturday to take part in the challenge today and tomorrow, which covers a total of 15km.

Tuitama's remarks were made in the official opening of breastfeeding week which kicked off with a parade through the city today.

Minister Tuitama discouraged the early use of powdered milk which has become common amongst mothers.

"The first one thousand days of a child, are the most important days of their lives, from the day they develop in the womb until they reach the age of two, the baby is most vulnerable at these ages," he said.

Quite a bit it seems.

During the cold and wet July school holidays, a group from Hutt International Boys' School in New Zealand toiled away and built a pre-school in the heat and humidity of Samoa.

Teacher Dean Rabbitt said it was the fulfilment of a dream for the group of students who had been selected for international service.

Ten of the recruits are women making up 42% of the graduates, a figure the Commissioner of, Police Egon Keil says he is extremely proud of.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says while he is glad for the addition to the police service, the new officers must know the authority of a police officer and the heavy responsibility that goes with it.

"Don’t ever abuse the power handed to you as a police officer,” he said.

“Don’t be like some of the old officers who corrupt this power."

Today, the official signing of the grant to build the multimillion dollar project took place with the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Japan and Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

"Samoa faces a deadly disease, one that can’t be cured with a vaccine. Climate change is affecting the Pacific the most because of our vulnerability. This center will make the efforts to combating Climate Change a lot easier and puts more focus on the task at hand," said Tuilaepa.

Aeau Peniamina Leavai says the decision to grant a license to the foreign owned tobacco company undermines efforts to improve public health in the country.

In a recent statement, the Minister of Public Enterprises Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell, dismissed concerns about the project saying smoking was a personal choice unaffected by where a cigarette was manufactured.

But opposition MP Aeau disagrees.

It follows the opening of the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Resort last year.

Founded in 1933 by Aggie Grey, it has seen various reincarnations; from burger joint to serve the troops to a hostel dormitory for visiting servicemen.

Many people of note walked through its doors including international dignitaries as well as Hollywood sensation Marlon Brando.